Our GPs - The shape of services today, and in the future - September 2016

Croydon has 57 GP practices, with 403,045 registered patients according to NHS England. Healthwatch Croydon, the local champion for better health and social care, heard the views of over of 1,856 patients across Croydon from 1 September 2015 to 31 August 2016 with every practice represented. This report is reflective of their views, experiences and expectations of a service that nearly every resident uses.

Residents are seeing Croydon’s GP services as less personal. Issues include difficulties in booking appointments by telephone, clinical judgements made by receptionists, and weeks of waiting for routine appointments with a preferred doctor. Many residents do not get to see a GP of choice, or a GP at all, with many not knowing who their GP is.